LEAD
CONTAMINATION IN TURMERIC: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NEWS: Lead
in turmeric more than 200 times the limit in parts of India: Study
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS?
A study found turmeric sold in India, Pakistan, and
Nepal has lead levels far exceeding FSSAI limits, posing serious health risks,
especially to children. Global and Indian initiatives aim to curb lead
pollution through stricter regulations and pollution prevention programs.
Lead
Contamination in Turmeric and Lead Pollution
Study
Findings:
- Turmeric samples from Patna
(India), Karachi and Peshawar (Pakistan) showed lead levels exceeding
1,000 µg/g.
- Guwahati and Chennai also
recorded lead levels above the regulatory limit set by the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
FSSAI
Lead Regulations:
- Lead limit for turmeric: 10
µg/g (FSSAI, 2011).
- Turmeric should be free from
lead chromate, added starch, and extraneous coloring matter.
Health
Risks of Lead:
- Mimics calcium, stored in
bones, disrupting metabolic processes.
- Health impacts: reduced
intelligence, risk of heart disease, kidney failure, and premature death.
- Children’s lead exposure (10
µg/L) is linked to a 1-point reduction in IQ.
Global
Lead Pollution Statistics:
- 815 million children with
blood lead levels >50 µg/L.
- 413 million children with
levels >100 µg/L.
- Even 3.5 µg/dL can affect
children's cognitive functions.
Lead
Characteristics:
- Naturally occurring in
earth’s crust, combines with sulfur and oxygen.
- Highly malleable, resistant
to corrosion, toxic to humans and ecosystems.
Global
and Indian Initiatives Against Lead Pollution:
- UNEP Global Alliance to eliminate lead paint.
- WHO Childhood Lead Poisoning
Prevention Programme.
- Partnership for Clean Indoor
Air and
Global Battery Alliance.
- Basel Convention regulates hazardous waste.
- India’s National
Programme for Lead Poisoning Prevention, BIS lead-free
certification, and Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022.
Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/lead-in-turmeric-more-than-200-times-the-limit-in-parts-of-india-study#:~:text=In%20India%2C%20Patna%20and%20Guwahati,branded%20powder%20and%20unpolished%20roots.